Computers to adopt 5 human senses?
IBM predicts that by 2018, computers will be advanced enough to mimic all five of the human senses of touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell.
“Processing sights and sounds requires eyes, ears and, most important, a brain—right? But what if your hardware shared your senses,” the technology group asked in its annual crystal ball gazing session called ‘5 in 5’ which assesses five technologies that may change the world in the next five years.
IBM says that in the era of cognitive computing, systems learn instead of passively relying on programming. As a result, emerging technologies will continue to push the boundaries of human limitations to enhance and augment our senses with machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced speech recognition and more.
IBM’s ‘5 in 5’:
Touch: You will be able to touch through your phone
IBM says that in the 1970s, when a telephone company encouraged people to “reach out and touch someone,” it had no idea that a few decades later that could be more than a metaphor.
The computer giant says that infrared and haptic technologies will soon enable a smart phone’s touchscreen technology and vibration capabilities to simulate the physical sensation of touching something.
“Within the next five years, your mobile device will let you touch what you’re shopping for online. It will distinguish fabrics, textures, and weaves so that you can feel a sweater, jacket, or upholstery – right through the screen,” IBM said.
Sight: A pixel will be worth a thousand words
IBM notes that recognition systems can pinpoint a face in a crowd. In the future, computer vision might save a life by analyzing patterns to make sense of visuals in the context of big data.
In industries as varied as healthcare, retail and agriculture, a system could gather information and detect anomalies specific to the task—such as spotting a tiny area of diseased tissue in an MRI and applying it to the patient’s medical history for faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Hearing: Computers will hear what matters
The computer maker believes that sensors that pick up sound patterns and frequency changes will be able to predict weakness in a bridge before it buckles, the deeper meaning of a baby’s cry or, a tree breaking down internally before it falls.
By analyzing verbal traits and including multi-sensory information, machine hearing and speech recognition could even be sensitive enough to advance dialogue across languages and cultures.
Taste: Digital taste buds will help you eat smarter
The challenge of providing food—whether it’s for impoverished populations, people on restricted diets or picky kids—is in finding a way to meet both nutritional needs and personal preferences, IBM says.
In the works, says IBM, is a way to compute “perfect” meals using an algorithmic recipe of favorite flavors and optimal nutrition. “No more need for substitute foods when you can have a personalized menu that satisfies both the calorie count and the palate”.
Smell: Computers will have a sense of smell
According to IBM, when you call a friend to say how you’re doing, your phone will know the full story. “Soon, sensors will detect and distinguish odors: a chemical, a biomarker, even molecules in the breath that affect personal health. The same smell technology, combined with deep learning systems, could troubleshoot operating-room hygiene, crops’ soil conditions or a city’s sanitation system before the human nose knows there’s a problem,” the group said.
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